Cate Blanchett, Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis have been ordered not to take
parts in the new Hobbit films over a row over pay.

Seven global actors’ unions have instructed their members to walk away from roles in the two big-budget Lord of the Rings prequels because producers have allegedly refused to negotiate a deal guaranteeing wages and working conditions for performers in New Zealand.

Unions in the US, Australia, the UK and Canada, acting under the umbrella of the International Federation of Actors (FIA), said Kiwi performers had "struggled on non-union contracts" for some years during filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

They said the contracts "provide no minimum guarantees of wages or working conditions", no payment for future broadcasts and no cancellation payments.

Keen not to repeat the experience while filming the forthcoming Hobbit features, the actors had attempted to negotiate a deal through their unions. But producers have allegedly refused, claiming that such a deal would break New Zealand’s competition laws.

"The International Federation of Actors... resolved that the time had come for performers around the world to support their colleagues in New Zealand and seek a union contract for all performers on The Hobbit," a statement said.